Bee-gathering box



y 13 1926. 1,592,636 1 A.F.LEMBKE BEE GATHERING BOX Filed Feb. 11, 1926 INVENTOR 'ndildrIembfie ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1926 UNlTEl) sTATEs PATENT oreics.

ARNOLD r. LEMBKE, or ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

. BEE-GATHERING BOX.

Application filed February 11,1926. semi No. 87,484.

The main object of this invention is to provide a novel portable box for gathering bees and whichmay be transported and carried in the hand to the place where the bees are swarming. The bees are readily enticed into the box which may then be closed and carriedto the hive into which they are then urged by a novel'type of telescoping roof inthe portablehive. The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing. U

:teferring briefly to the drawing, 1 is a perspective view of the box.

Figure 2 is a partially sectioned to plan view of Figure 1, showing the metho of releasing the telescopingroof so that the same may be slid downwardly in the box.

Figure 3 is a sectionalelevational view of the lower' part of the box, showing the means of permitting entrance into the interiOr of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a panel having ridges 11 and 12 at its long sides and an additional ridge 1.3 extending across its width. This forms a trough-like element having one end open, and on thisopen end an inclined face 1 1 is provided which merges with the upper surface 15 of the panel at a position removed from the edge. The box comprises a rectangular casing open at both ends having long walls 16 and 17, and short walls 18 and 19. Near the upper ends of each of the walls 16, 17, 18, and 19, slots are provided. One of these slots 20 is formed in each wall at convenient positions for receiving locking bars located in a telescoping element which forms the roof of the box. This roof consists of a rectangular plate 21 which is adapted to slidably and snugly fit into the interior 22 of the box. This plate has upwardly extending side walls 23 and 24 and end walls 25 and 26. A pair of bars 27 and 28 are formed into a cross element by mortising their intersecting portions and are pivotally mounted upon the plate 21 by passing a pivot stud 29 thru both bars at the intersection of the axes. The bar 27 has both ends of a loop handle 30 secured thereto by attaching elements 31, such as screws, or the like. In the walls 23, 2 1, 25, and 26, slots 34, 32, 35, and 33 are provided into which the ends of the bars 27 F lgure 21131115 are ShOlVll and 28 are adapted to'enter. These slots formed in the walls of the roof member are aligned with each corresponding slot 20 in the box and at one side are provided with recessed portions to permit the swinging of the arms 27 and 28 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that indicated in Figure 1. In the latter figure, the'ends 36 of said projecting into the slots of the box. 1 I v j 3 In using this device, the box consisting of the walls 16,17, 18, and 19, is rested uponthe surface 15 ofthe panel in such manner that an entrance passage 37 formed between the inclined face 1 1 of the panel and the open bottom of the box. This is done by sliding the box forwardon the surface 15 ofthe panel toward the inclined face. The roof is retained interlocked with the box by permitting the entrance of the ends of the arms 27 and 28' into their respective slots 20 formed in the box. device is carried in this position to the lo cation where the bees are swarming and held aloft in the hand. hen the bees become rested, they will cluster about the entrance passage 37 and enter the same into the chamber 22 of the box. When the entire swarm has entered the chamber 22 thru the passage 37, the box is slowly slid toward the opposite end of the pan-e1, that is, toward the ridge 13 in order to close and seal the passage 37. The entire device with the bees now in the chamber 22 is transported to a distant hive which has been constructed with an opening suitable to permit the insertion of part of the box into it. In transporting the box to the hive care must be taken not to excite the swarm of bees in the chamber The box is lifted very slowly and quietly from its place on the panel 10 and inserted into the opening in the hive, as previously stated. The bars 27 and 28 are then rotated by manipulating the handle 30 about the pivot pin 29 from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2, thereby releasing the ends 36 of the bars from engagement in the slots 20 of the box, releasing the roof from interlocked position with the box. As the entire device, with the exception of the handle 30, is constructed of wood, the roof is capable of sliding slowly and smoothly within the chamber 22. The grip on the handle is released after this and the entire roof slides downwardly and The slowly urges the swarm of bees, which are now captured in the chamber 22, into the hive.

I claim 1- 1. A bee-gathering box comprising a casing open at both ends, a slidable panel covering one end, a slidable roof covering the opposite end, and means on said casing and roof mutually cooperating for interlocking the roof on the casing.

2. A bee-gathering box comprising a rectangular casing open at the top and bottom and having four wallsand a slot in each wall, a slidable panel covering the lower end of said casing, a roof member slidable in said casing, and pivoted means on said roof member engaging the slots in the casing for interlocking the roof member on the casing.

3. A bee-gathering box comprising a rec-' tangular casing open at the top and bottom and having four walls and a slot in each wall, a slidable panel covering the lower end of said casing, said slidable panel having ridges on three sides and an inclined face on the remaining side, the inclined face when overlapped by one end oi the casing being adapted to form a passageway between the casing and the panel into the chamber of the casing, a removable roof and means on said roof engageable in said slots to secure the roof in the upper end of the casing.

4. A bee-gathering box comprising a rectangular casing open at the top and bottom and having four walls and a slot in each wall, aslidable panel covering the lower end of said casing, said slidable panel having ridges on three sides and an inclined face on the remaining side, the inclined face when overlapped by one end of the casing being adapted to form a passageway between the casing and the panel into the chamber of the casing, a roof, means on the roof engageable in said slots in the casing for securing said roof in the upper end of the casing, said roof member comprising a plate and upwardly extending walls bounding said plate, said walls having slots aligned with and corresponding in number ture.

ARNOLD F. LEMBKE. 

